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Bacon Fest marks 10 anniversary

Published November 30. 2021 10:28AM
by Tami Quigley Special to the Bethlehem Press

Pennsylvania Bacon Fest got things cookin’ in Easton’s Centre Square and the surrounding area Nov. 6-7.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival featured 150 food and drink vendors and 15 live musical acts during two days of all things bacon.

Offering a bonanza of delicious bacon-themed food, the festival also had live music, family-friendly activities, cooking demos and every sort of bacon treat you can imagine.

One group of festers who thought Pa. Bacon Fest was the “toast of the town” were Andy and Mary Beth Simmons of Bethlehem, Sandi Greene of Forks Township and Zachary Zeitner of Moore Township.

“We’ve been here before. It’s a great atmosphere,” Andy Simmons said as his wife wholeheartedly agreed.

Greene and Zeitner were first-time festers and shared their friends’ enthusiasm. “We like to support local vendors,” Greene said.

“The food is amazing and the beer is fantastic,” Zeitner said. “And coming through the pandemic, I love the interaction.” And, of course, it’s all about the bacon.

Activities and events included All Shook Up: The Bacon, Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwich Showdown – because nobody loved a good bacon, banana and peanut butter sandwich better than the king of rock’n’roll himself, Elvis Presley! The fun sandwich showdown featured Chef “Billyum” Poplawski of State Café and Grill and Chef Ada Chandler plus an Elvis impersonator and tunes.

Pig and Weiner Dog Races, bungee jump, a hog calling contest, bacon eating contest and rock climbing wall were all slices of the fun.

The festival is a fundraiser for the non-profit Greater Easton Development Partnership (GEDP). Visitors were asked to contribute a $2 suggested donation at the entrance gates to benefit GEDP programs such as Easton Public Market and Easton Farmers’ Market. Funds raised support free events and programming in Easton throughout the year, including Easton Out Loud, Live at the Falls concerts and many others.

One of the most popular food festivals to dish out fare in the Lehigh Valley, PA Bacon Fest’s accolades include being featured on USA Today’s 10 Bests lists https://www.10best.com/ in 2019.

Press photos by Tami Quigley Easton is sizzlin' as crowds gather in Centre Square Nov. 6 for the opening day of the two-day PA Bacon Fest, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021.
Happy festers enjoying PA Bacon Fest fare are, from left, Andy and Mary Beth Simmons of Bethlehem; Sandi Greene of Forks Township; and Zachary Zeitner of Moore Township. The festival dished up a bonanza of everything bacon you could imagine to eat.
Ray and Erin Grins of “Grins and Grins Family Comedy Show” greet bacon lovers in Centre Square. The couple, who live on College Hill, performed two juggling shows each day of the festival. Erin, dressed as the Bacon Queen, said they were invited to perform by the Greater Easton Development Partnership.
It's the running of the pigs on East Northampton Street! Or, more specifically, the Pig and Wiener Dog Races, which gathered a large crowd of cheering onlookers.
Children enjoy swinging above East Northampton Street at the Bungee Jump.
The crowd enjoys the rock/acoustic rock of Zaire – a band hailing from neighboring Phillipsburg, N.J. – at the Hog Wild Stage at Third and Ferry Streets.
Colin O'Leary, singer-songwriter from Easton, performs early American folk music through a modern lens on the Piglets Stage on East Northampton Street.
Chocolate Covered Bacon, sold by Bacon Bites of Fairview, N.J., is one of the tasty bacon-themed treats sold at the festival.
The sun begins to set on the first day of PA Bacon Fest 2021.